A few months ago, I was unmotivated. Looking in the mirror, I only saw a frustrated woman who hadn’t stuck to any of her 2025 plans.

When researching goals for the coming year, I came across a list of decluttering tips for the coming year. That seemed a good place to start.

Some of the chores made sense. Throw out all the expired seasonings and foods in the pantry. One look at my pantry told me I was in for a lot of work, and I’d need a lot of trash bags.

Another was to get rid of clutter. I’ve read that tip a thousand times, and I finally admitted I’m not a minimalist.

I like having numerous photos of my family all around me and shelves filled with my favorite books. They’re not clutter to me – they’re opportunities to revisit familiar characters.

I kept scrolling on the internet, and I saw a site that listed 100 daily affirmations. Some I thought belonged in a mountain-top ashram – “I respect the cycle of the seasons” but others made good sense.

Some didn’t really offer anything I could sink my teeth into. Here’s a few of those:

I am open to the messages the universe has to offer.

I am well rested and excited for the day.

I can control how I respond to things that are frustrating, and, last but not least:

I seek out mystery in the ordinary.

Those messages from the universe? Here’s one:  “Go shopping today and buy a bag of chocolate because you’re depressed.” Maybe that was my imagination talking to me.

I am seldom well rested because insomnia is my constant companion.

I might think I can control myself, but when some idiot pulls out in front of me in traffic, I still scream “you moron” into the emptiness of my vehicle.

That mystery stain on the coffee table? No clue where it came from and I don’t want to know. With eight grandchildren, the mystery can stay a mystery.

Still, there had to be some affirmations I could hold as my own to make my life better.

I went back through the list and chose ones I felt would improve my soul.

Then I typed out the list, double spaced it in large print and hit print. I cut out each one, folded it, and put the affirmations in a pretty bowl.

Each morning, I take one out and read it, hopefully setting a positive mood for myself each day.

I’m sharing some of the sentiments, and a response to hopefully make you smile, in case you want to create your own inspiration jar.

1. I leave room in my life for spontaneity. Except on Mondays.
2. I look forward to tomorrow. Except when it’s trash day.
3. I strive for joy, not perfection. Since I’ll never be perfect, this one’s easy to achieve.
4. Today I celebrate that I am younger than I’m ever going to be. And I’m still no spring chicken.
5. When I forgive myself, I free myself. Most of the time. Guilt is a hard habit to break.
6. A clear blue sky is a signal all is right in the world. Every time.
7. There’s always time to watch an episode of “The Andy Griffith Show.” Barney Fife never fails to get a laugh.
8. Housework can wait. Relationships with people can’t. Leave the dust and make the phone call.
9. In limited circumstances, having something chocolate is not only okay, it’s essential.
10. Be happy. Life is short.

There you have it. A top 10 list of recommendations to get you started on creating a happy 2026 if the lofty goals you set for yourself are already cratering.

First thing on my affirmation list is to check the pantry. There’s got to be something chocolate in there that’s not expired.

 

This column was originally published in The Fort Bend Herald.